Thursday, June 28, 2012

Homage to Nora Ephron

I was shocked and saddened yesterday to hear of Nora Ephron's death. What an amazing writer, director, and all around talented woman she was.

I first "met" her in the summer of 1987. I was pregnant with my son Mark and came across the movie "Heartburn" on TV one Saturday afternoon. At first it was a sweet love story. The couple: Rachel and Mark (played by Meryl Streep & Jack Nicholson) gets married, laugh a lot, have dinner parties with their best friends and life seems wonderful. Then while waddling around with her second pregnancy, Rachel discovers Mark is having an affair. While watching her be hurt, angry, screaming, and sobbing on the small TV screen, I bawled my eyes out. Nothing is lower, to me, than a husband cheating on his pregnant wife! And since I was sitting there, largely pregnant myself, my hormones kicked into overdrive. The Ronald came into the family room a couple of times and looked at me as if he should call 911. I guess he'd never seen such a spectacle, such a complete breakdown by a woman before. I swore at him and said he better not EVER do that to me, or...or....I don't remember what I said after that, but you can be assured it wasn't something nice. 25 years later, I still love that movie. Why? I just love a really good tear jerker every now and then. 


Then of course she wrote Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle, to name a few. When her book "I Feel Bad about My Neck and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman," came out, I immediately bought it in hardcover. I loved it and have loaned it out many times (always using my "library borrow cards," so I can keep track of who has it!)


I even wrote to Ms. Ephron after I read her "Neck" book, telling her how much I enjoyed it, etc.etc.etc...and how I'm a writer, too. (Bet she never received letters saying THAT before. Ha!) She didn't write back, but that was okay. I surely didn't think she would. 


Thank you, Nora, for giving us Harry Burns and Sally Albright, Mark Forman and Rachel Samstat, Sam Baldwin and Annie Reed, and Karen Silkwood. We'll never forget you, or your wonderful characters.

What about you? Do you like Nora Ephron's books and/or movies? Which is your favorite?



"I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." -- Harry Burns, When Harry Met Sally.

19 comments:

  1. I was shocked and saddened by the news of her passing. We've lost someone who could write books and stories that I like to watch on the big screen. My favourites, When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle.

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  2. I like Sleepless in Seattle best, I think. I'm listening to the soundtrack as I type.

    Though I had known Nora Ephron as writer, director and producer, I had never known what she was like as a friend. Yesterday, I listened to Morning Joe's tribute to her on MSNBC, and began to admire her, and envy her ability to make people feel cooler than they really were (as one commenter said).

    You can find the video on the site. It's touching.

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  3. She sure did wonderful work. Sleepless in Seattle is one of my favorite movies ever. I always think of Meg Ryan hiding in the broom closet in the kitchen talking on the phone, lol.

    Kathy M.

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  4. I was sad to see this news, too. A very talented woman!

    =)

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  5. Oh, gosh, Becky. That was sad news. I loved Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally. Great movies. May she rest in peace. Susan

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  6. I never have cared much for her books, but loved the movies. I did not know she did Silkwood! She was certainly versatile.

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  7. I didn't read her books but OMG I loved her movies. I don't know if I could just pick one!

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  8. I like 'When Harry met Sally'. Nice of you to pay tribute. Then again, you're always nice.

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  9. A special tribute to a very talented lady. I enjoyed her work!

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  10. First of all, LOVELY BACKGROUND!!!! My favorite is sleepless in Seattle,I can watch it over and over! love the scene where the guys started mocking girls sobbing while talking about The Dirty dozen movie! The soundtrack is the bomb too, and the cast??? There is no better couple (chemistry and rapport wise) than Meg & Tom! Farewell, Nora!

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  11. A wonderful tribute, Becky. I loved her too!!

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  12. Silkwood is my favorite. Especially the part in the kitchen, discussing that "Angela" is a beautician, when Kurt Russell is informed that she works at Thayer's.

    "Funeral Home?"

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  13. Oh, I love "When Harry Met Sally"...it's just such a true story, you know?

    Such a talent, Nora Ephron. She'll be missed.

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  14. I think we were all saddened by her death. My favorite movie was all of them, but I really really loved..."You've Got Mail" I watch it every year.

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  15. The story of Mark and Karen always breaks my heart, too. But I can't stay away if it's on.

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  16. Thanks, everyone! Isn't it wonderful, though, to have books and movies that we can enjoy over and over? I'm very grateful for that!

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  17. Love Nora Ephron. If you enjoyed the movie Heartburn, and haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  18. Okay, I'm a bit late... didn't hear about Nora until reading your blog. I swear I'm in my own little world here lately. My first experience with Nora was a recipe of hers and I had read about it from Elizabeth Berg's writing book. I didn't realize how much she has done. Now I need to find out why she died.

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